The kindergarten has plenty of natural light, oxygen and a really fun design that encourages kids to grow freely because the sky is their ceiling.

Situated in the city of Tachikawa, Fuji Kindergarten follows the Japanese architectural tradition of welcoming nature in. In this case, Tezuka Architects built around nature, leaving the classroom’s core tree free to grow with the kids. Shaped like a spiral and featuring outdoor and indoor spaces, the classrooms have great views – particularly when looking up.

The kindergarten has plenty of natural light, oxygen and a really fun design that encourages kids to grow freely because the sky is their ceiling. The school’s vice principal, Mr. Kato inspired the building’s form when he requested “a classroom without furniture”. The project is a great way to pay homage to a Zelkova tree that survived a terrible typhoon fifty years ago.